Controversies over Hybrid Corn

The government and opposition have a radically different understanding of a new hybrid of corn which was grown in the country this year. Representatives of the government claim that the program was successful and the farmers are happy. The opposition parties and Christian-Democrats in particular state that after traveling in western Georgia and visiting farmers they came to the conclusion that the program failed and farmers are in poor position and need immediate assistance. Moreover Christian-Democrats who are parliamentary minority representatives demanded setting up a special commission for studying this issue. The leader of the majority in the Georgian parliament, Petre Tsiskarishvili, criticized the opposition accusing them of attempting to score political points. According to Tsiskarishvili, more than 10,000 rural households received additional income for the hybrid corn. More than 500 people received extra jobs and demand for the seeds of hybrid corn increased. He also mentioned that by the end of this year, Georgia expects to export around 100,000 tons, whereas according to him the opposition wants to follow the Soviet system in cultivating corn. Meanwhile parliamentary opposition wants to dedicate a special hearing to the issue in the parliament on September 30 and invites the Minister of Agriculture Bakur Kvezereli to attend this discussion.